Events

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theartistandhismodel is a curated portal of all things creative and inspirational for creative professionals, students, and anyone who shares the same love for art and design started in 2005. The site has since then featured over 3000 creative professional across 80 cities.

Upcoming Events

Internationally acclaimed Indonesian artist Arkiv Vilmansa debuts in Singapore with his solo exhibition, One or Nothing, a graphical take on Singapore’s relentless pursuit of being number one. Singapore's first designer toy-inspired exhibition ‘One or Nothing’ is a series of twelve paintings that are based on uniquely Singaporean icons. The exhibition invites art and toy enthusiasts to explore the distinct Singaporean way of living through the perspective of an international artist. Arkiv's signature style incorporates fluid and curvaceous lines paired with bright vivid colours which is seen in many of his paintings. ‘Arkiv Instant’, his first vinyl toy figurine, is also one of his most recognised works. The exhibition runs at the FLABSLAB gallery at One Commonwealth from 16 November to 30 November. >>

Wake Me Up Music, Singapore's premium indie record label, is taking a long long nap after more than a decade of contribution to the Singaporean music scene. Before we take that nap, let's bring back the old times and have one hell of a party! The two-day show will feature current and past Wake Me Up Music bands and also other bands who have been such great friends to us. This will probably be the LAST TIME you'll see bands like Surreal, Sky in Euphoria, Vertical Rush, Marchtwelve, My Squared Circle and Pension State come together for a show like this. Show Details: Venue - Home Club (20 Upper Circular Road) Date & Time - 10 December 2011 (Sat): 8.00pm-10.00pm 11 December 2011 (Sun): 4.30pm-10.00pm Charge - $10 for 2-Day Pass (Tickets sold at door) >>

Yanda: Tell us about yourself and what you do.
Yah-Leng Yu: My name is Yah-Leng. I am a designer who runs Foreign Policy Design Group.

What do you do first when you get up in the morning?
Nowadays, I wake up too early, or rather not sleeping much, so I run in the morning.

What daily routines you cannot do without?
Tea. A good soak in the tub. Read at least one article from a magazine. Instagram. Twitter. Email. Brainstorm with my partner. Brainstorm by myself.

How would you describe your work in three words?
I’d like to say “Simple. Genuine. Thoughtful.”

When did you first get involved in the design?
In secondary school, I always volunteered to make posters for events, class t-shirts, one time even re-branding my school band with new logo, new emblem, new music folders, band tees and new uniforms. My bandmate and I prepared a presentation of the design of the new uniform with new colors, badge, logo and pitched to my teacher but she rejected the entire idea, maybe because she was a little too conservative even I tried persuading her relentlessly. That was my first client rejection! lol!

If you have a chance to own someone’s work and wish it was yours, what would it be and why?
I would love to own posters and printed works designed by Jan Tschichold, Emil Ruder, Robert Büchler, Karl Gerstner, Josef Müller-Brockmann and Ikko Tanaka. I know it sounds very greedy! But I love typography and the masters of modern graphic design, so I really wish I can get my hands on them especially after seeing their works in up close in person at museums. They are also some of my favorite designers whose works have been very inspiring and influential, and whose devised systems and rules of grids and ratios have helped shape generations of graphic designers.

Who do you dream to design for?
A school and a hospital.

What’s your definition of happiness?
Sounds trite but my definition of happiness is that one truly could live the kind of life one dreams to live and one’s work does not feel like a job. Happiness is also when I am in control of time management since I run my own design office. Happiness can also be derived from the finished work. So, I guess there could be a happiness cycle that goes on and on and on: happy to do the work and happy with the work…happy to do work and happy with the final work produced…and so on…

What makes you guilty?
Not pulling in enough hours to think through designs, that’s also a signal that it’s time to take less work and put that razor sharp focus on those at hand.

How do you set your benchmarks?
Setting goals certainly helps. Making that decision on the kind of work we want to do, or the kind of clients we want to work with, and just focus, make a go at them and do them really well. It is also important to have a grip of the landscape out there, and decide how you want to “play” and how you want to be different, so that you can be successful.

How do you set your benchmarks then?
Setting goals certainly helps. Making that decision on the kind of work we want to do, or the kind of clients we want to work with, and just focus, make a go at them and do them really well. It is also important to have a grip of the landscape out there, and decide how you want to “play” and how you want to be different, so that you can be successful.

How do you keep educating yourself?
Reading. Traveling. Keeping track of that’s happening in the world and what’s happening around me. Learning from clients, learning from my team, learning from everyone I work with. Making and building things with friends.

Namecard for Darryl Wee.

The Space Program.

Any heroes? What do you admire about them?
During art school, it was Karin Fong. She designed all the cool film titles and I was really inspired by her works. Recently I met the legendary Massimo Vignelli, he has since also become my hero. With his prolific body of outstanding works, Massimo is an extremely down to earth and humble designer, no airs, no attitude at all and happy to hang out with younger folks. I love his energy and his philosophy. Everyone should read his book The Vignelli Canon.

Can taste be taught or nurtured?
Absolutely! One just needs to be in the right environment and in the right “hands”. Of course one needs to be open to want to be taught and nurtured, and eventually be open to make that leap for change, or rather, make that decision for change.

Kha.

Loysel’s Toy.

What about hunger?
Hunger is also contingent on the need of the individual. Hunger drives diligence and hard work, and if tenacious enough, it will get to success. Again, depending on the individual on how much they want something. Some people are naturally more hungry than others; or by circumstance some people need to be more hungry and therefore more driven. It is definitely an ingredient for success.

Audio Book.

Fat Cow.

Do you think our design scene in Singapore is lacking of what they have in the advertising or art world — critics, bitches and their own magazines to hype things up.
ha ha – yes, definitely lacking! I think critics are important for any civilization – so why not.

Lastly, if you have a chance to change a public space for the better, what would you do to it?
It really depends on the context – the location of the space and who are using it. The aesthetics of the space is a given – it has to be nicely designed and pleasant of course. Most importantly, it has to be designed such that people are at ease using it, even the minute details affect how people function in the space and how much they always want to come back again to the space and interact. I would be happy to volunteer to make over a public space to make it more interesting and more engaging.